Alex Hales scores double ton in the County Championship

While the England Test team continues to face the lack of consistency from their openers and one of their middle-order batsmen, Alex Hales has struck a run-a-ball double century for Nottinghamshire in the County Championship game on Monday. This knock could well turn out to be a timely one for Hales given the voids in the England team ahead of the West Indies Test series which could see the lanky batsman returning to the squad after one year.

Hales, who nearly broke Chris Gayle’s fastest T20 century record by scoring 95 off just 30 balls in the NatWest T20 Blast against Durham on Saturday, featured in the County game against Derbyshire in Derby which started on Sunday. Batting first, Derbyshire were bowled out for 220 and reduced Nottingham to 103/3 before Hales walked in. The England limited-overs star scored at a brisk pace from the start as he brought up his fifty in 54 balls with 3 fours off Luis Reece. He brought up his 13th first-class century with a boundary off Hardus Viljeon in 114 balls.

With support coming in from the veteran keeper-batsman Chris Read, Hales turned even more aggressive taking only 42 further balls to bring up his 150 and eventually his double century in just 201 balls. There are only three double centuries recorded for Nottinghamshire in 200 or fewer balls in first-class cricket.

Riki Wessels completed his double ton in 170 balls against Sussex last year, the fastest FC 200 for Nottingham. Samit Patel took 190 balls while Kevin Pietersen in 197 balls respectively against Durham MCCU in 2013 and against Middlesex way back in 2002. All these double tons were scored at their home ground Trent Bridge.

This was Hales’ 2nd double century in FC cricket. His best score was 236 against Yorkshire in 2015 which he scored off 282 balls. Hales finally departed after scoring 218 in 218 balls with help of 38 fours and a six which helped Nottingham to declare at 508/9 and aim at innings win with two more days left in the game.

This hundred from Alex Hales was his third in the last 40 days with all the three coming in three different formats. He smashed an unbeaten 187 off 167 balls in the Royal London One-day Cup against Surrey at London while he struck 101 off just 47 balls in the NatWest T20 Blast at Trent Bridge against Yorkshire.